Prevalence of HIV-Related Stigma and its Impact on Status Disclosure among Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Despite significant advancements in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), HIV-related stigma remains a critical barrier to effective treatment and prevention efforts. Non-disclosure of HIV status is a major consequence of this stigma, hindering social support, treatment adherence, and partner notification. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV/AIDS-related stigma among adult patients receiving ART at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, and to assess the effect of this stigma on the disclosure of HIV status.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients receiving ART at UATH. A total of 290 respondents were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of stigma. Chi-squared test and regression analyses were employed to examine the association between stigma and the likelihood of status disclosure.Results: The mean age of respondents was 38.8 ± 11.3 years, with a majority being female (67.6%). The overall prevalence of stigma was 31.5%, while the prevalence of fear of stigma (perceived stigma) was 33.8%. Stigma was significantly associated with non-disclosure of HIV status. Specifically, the likelihood of non-disclosure was significantly higher among those who reported that disclosure is risky (a proxy for perceived stigma) compared to those who did not (p < 0.05). Furthermore, regression analysis showed that factors such as age, religion, occupation, and number of years since HIV positive were statistically significant predictors of personalized stigma (p < 0.05).Conclusion: HIV-related stigma is highly prevalent among adult ART patients in Abuja and significantly impedes the disclosure of HIV status. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, facility-based and community-level anti-stigma interventions to improve disclosure rates, enhance social support, and ultimately strengthen the national HIV response.